By: Problyn J. Alpha
The Communications officer Environment Protection Agency (EPA) in Kono District Willie Sylvanus Collier has exonerated Koidu Limited Mining Company from flood allegation at the main Konomanyi Lorry Park in Koidu City Kono District whenever there is a heavy down pour of rain.
The Environment Protection Agency Communications Officer made the statement when expressing a professional opinion on the said allegations.
According to him the allegations that the operations of Koidu Limited Mining Company is responsible for the flooding that does occur at some parts of the main Konomayi Lorry Park, lacks what he called the element of truth and that it is not to the knowledge of the agency.
He intimated this Medium that for every three months the agency does monitor the operations of all the Mining companies in the district, nothing their monitoring covers proper fuel storage and other general waste management including the use of chemicals to name but a few.
He intimated all and sundry that it could be recalled that Koi from the word Koidu is a Kono word meaning rice farming and as a result the city of Koidu has a history of wet lands predominantly meant for rice farming thus owing to the construction of dwelling houses in certain areas flooding does occur whenever there is a heavy down pour and not the operations of Koidu Limited Mining Company as alleged Willie Sylvanus Collier Maintained.
The Kono District communication Officer of the Environment Protection Agency further noted that the establishment of the Agency was born out of the degree of caring the government of Sierra Leone has for the well-being of its citizenry.
Thereby giving the constitutional rights to the Agency to regulate the proper management of the environment in order to maintain the safety and security of all and sundry.
Whilst explaining that wet land under the RAMZA convention prohibits the construction of dwelling or any other structures Mr. Collier Strictly advised people to stay off flood prone areas especially during the rains as such areas are described as death traps.
He disclosed plans by the Agency to intensify their regular environmental education sensitization in the District especially in flood prone areas as the ramifications of flooding cannot be over emphasis noting apart from the destruction of property and lives flooding also serves as breeding grounds for Mosquitoes which has social, health and economic implications.
Meanwhile, on the side of the management of Koidu Limited Mining Company the Head of cooperate affairs and Human Resource Manager Ibrahim Turay and Sahr S. Aruna debunked the aforementioned allegations noting prior to the operations of the then NDMC Mining, the identified flood prone areas have existed.
They said despite flooding is an old phenomenon across the world they cannot leave their houses on fire and go to bed meaning they cannot be part of a problem that has the potential of killing their own family members as all of them do stay in Koidu City, Kono District.
The exposure of foodstuff especially bread by some business people is on the increase in the municipality of Koidu.
This is according to the communication officer Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Kono District Willie Sylvanus Collier.
He told this medium that the practical dictionary meaning of bread in Koidu City is food left uncovered, adding Sierra Leoneans are fun of creating problems thereby blaming the government for the feedback or outcome of their wrong doings.
He said the implications of eating uncovered food cannot be our emphasised as diseases are most times transmitted by two ways biological and mechanical as he put it flies which consume faeces transmit diseases by sitting on a food which is not washed before eating it. Whilst disclosing plans by the agency to crack down on those in the habit of selling food stuff uncovered which is enshrined in the health ordinance of the country Mr. Collier exposed dismay over the corrective and punitive measures used to addressing such health menace but to no avail.
